Why Distracted Driving Matters in Bakersfield

Distracted driving is by far the #1 cause of car accidents. It is such a problem that companies like AT&T do advertising campaigns to discourage texting and driving. The U.S. government has an official Website that’s all about distracted driving. When there are accidents, car accident attorneys usually get involved. That’s because injuries, whether minor or fatal, may create a need for justice, and a car accident attorney can help. If you’re a parent, you have the opportunity to warn the teenagers in your life about the dangers of distracted driving. Here are 4 convincing statistics from distraction.gov:

3,179 people were killed, and 431,000 people injured in 2014 due to motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.

10% of fatal crashes involving drivers age 15 to 19 were due to distraction at the time of the crash.

23% of drivers in fatal crashes are in their 20s, but they are 27% of distracted drivers and 38% of the distracted drivers who were using cell phones in a fatal crash.

5 seconds is the average time it takes to text while driving. But at 55 mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded.

Distracted Driving in Bakersfield

The statistics are important because approximately 30% of Kern County is age 15 – 34.* That’s over 250,000 people in our county that are in the age group with the highest tendencies for distracted driving. If you fall into the category of drivers age 15 – 34, knowing and avoiding the tendencies for distraction makes you a better driver. Common distractions that take attention away from driving and other drivers are:

Texting

Talking on the phone

Eating and drinking

Talking with passengers

Grooming – hair, make up, shaving

Reading, including maps

Looking at a navigation system

Watching a video

Adjusting a radio or other music source

Those of us age 35 and over are subject to the same distractions, and we must be aware of our own tendencies for distraction as well as be aware of other drivers to avoid injury accidents. If you’re an employer, there are two things you can do to encourage safe driving:

Create and publicize a policy about distracted driving that fits for your company and reminds employees that ‘one text or call could wreck it all.’ You can download a sample policy from distraction.gov.

Encourage employees to take and share the pledge to not text and drive, whether on or off company time. Their lives are at stake.

Compensation and Insurance Issue Help from a Car Accident Attorney

Finally, if you’re injured in a crash due to a distracted driver, you may have a case against the person who hit you. If have questions and want to talk with a car accident lawyer, please give us a call. We may be able to help you with insurance issues and other compensation.